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Nalanda monks and Ven. Tenzin Namjong during their visit to Swayambhunath, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Nalanda Monastery monks.
In March, Fifteen monks from Nalanda Monastery, the FPMT monastery in Lavaur, France, traveled to Nepal to participate in the Monlam Chenmo (Great Prayer Festival), organized by Kopan Monastery.
Kopan has been convening a Monlam Chenmo for the Gelug monasteries and nunneries in Nepal for the past fifteen years. Lama Zopa Rinpoche told the Nalanda monks that the idea for organizing the Monlam Chemno goes back to 1975, when Lama Yeshe expressed how good it would be to have a Monlam Chenmo at the monastery, which at that time was too small to host it.
This year’s Monlam Chenmo was held March 5-10 at Gosok Phuntsok Choling Monastery in Swayambhunath. During the event, prayers were made for the gurus’ long lives, the survival and spreading of the Dharma, and world peace. Jangtse Choeje Venerable Gosok Rinpoche led the daily prayers and taught from the Jataka Tales.
Lama Zopa Rinpoche with Nalanda monks and Ven. Tenzin Namjong, Kathmandu, Nepal, March 2020. Photo by Nalanda Monastery monks.
For many of the Nalanda monks who attended, this was their first trip to the East. Expenses for their journey were covered by a generous sponsor. Kopan Monastery provided accommodation and food for them. “When we arrived we met with Kopan Abbot Khen Rinpoche Geshe Chonyi who kindly welcomed us and shared advice,” Ven. Losang Gyaltsen said.
Ven. Tenzin Gendun said, “The Monlam Chenmo prayers being so precious and holy, Lama Zopa Rinpoche thought that it would be wonderful for the Western Sangha—specifically the Nalanda Sangha—to attend the Monlam Chenmo in Nepal. He mentioned this idea in various teachings. During the 2019 Institut Vajra Yogini retreat one woman kindly proposed to sponsor this project.
“During our visit with Rinpoche in Nepal there was some discussion about how Nalanda could organize a Monlam Chenmo in France. Rinpoche agreed that some of the prayers could be read first in English and then chanted in Tibetan. He suggested we adapt the normal Monlam Chenmo schedule by adding other various activities to attract more people.”
Ven. Thubten Lektsok and Ven. Losang Thubten at Gosok Phuntsok Choling Monastery, Swayambhunath, Nepal, March 2020.
The Nalanda monks learned how to do the prayers from Geshe Sherab-la, Kopan’s umze (chant leader) who has been the Monlam Chenmo umze for many years, and Kopan monks who serve as the second umze. Ven. Tenzin Gendun said, “Geshe Sherab-la kindly gave us a lot of advice on how to hold a Monlam Chenmo in France and even proposed that we meet with him via Skype sometimes to receive trainings.”
The Monlam Chenmo was attended by 1,800 monastics and representatives from eight monasteries and two nunneries and drew around 1,300 attendees daily.
“Thanks to Ven. Tenzin Namjong from Sera IMI House and others,” Ven. Thubten Jamyang said, “we were easily able to follow the prayers using English translations and Tibetan phonetics.”
“Our experience with the other monks and nuns of Kopan Monastery proved to be a harmonious expression of unity. I believe that we have accumulated much merit and purified many obstacles during this festival. Hopefully one day we can introduce the Monlam Chenmo to Nalanda Monastery, albeit on a smaller scale!”
Ven. Tenpa Gyaltsen said, “We were privileged to attend korwas and prayers with Lama Zopa Rinpoche one evening at the Boudhanath Stupa.” Following Rinpoche’s advice, the monks visited Swayambunath and the Mahakala Temple in Kathmandu, as well as Pharping and Namo Buddha with Ven. Sarah Thresher, who taught about the holy sites.
Monlam Chenmo, Gosok Phuntsok Choling Monastery, Swayambhunath, Nepal, March 2020.
Ven. Tendar and Ven. Zoksang said, “On March 29 Khadro-la (Rangjung Neljorma Khadro Namsel Drönme) welcomed us with warm hospitality, as if we were her own family. After offerings of khatas and gifts (and of course an invitation to return to Nalanda!), we shared tea, laughter, and inspiring stories.”
Ven. Losang Gyalsten said, “All our gratitude to our most precious Guru, Lama Zopa Rinpoche, who initiated this event, to Geshe Sherab-la and the monks for their kind help, to Kopan Monastery who hosted us, and to our kind sponsors who have so much faith in the Dharma.”
For more information about Nalanda Monastery, visit their website:
https://nalanda-monastery.eu/index.php/en/
For more information about Kopan Monastery, visit their website:
https://kopanmonastery.com/
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